Diocese of Charlotte Curriculum Day Meeting Minutes and Action Plan What is Working – What is Not / Where are We – Where do We Want to Be? Minutes: Please submit a summary of what was discussed in your subject area meetings focusing on what is working/not working related to your classroom, Common Core, NC Essential Standards, Religion Standards and other relevant curriculum issues. Include a summary of where your participants feel they are relative to implementation and adherence to standards in their schools and where they would like to be. When complete you may upload to your subject area page on the wiki or email to jdurrett@charlottediocese.org to be published on the Curriculum Day wiki at http://doccatholicschoolscurriculumday.wikispaces.com/ (due March 11, 2013). -Introductions -a First Grade Common Core Checklist was distributed to group members -we began our discussion by following the prepared keynote presentation which followed the format of our Wiki information letter Language Arts -those teachers who are using the Journeys Reading Program feel very comfortable that the Common Core standards are being well covered -it came to our attention that this does not apply to all teachers, and that many reading programs are being used -we discussed, at length, other resources that are available beyond reading programs that are Common Core ready -teachers from the host school shared their recent successes they are having with independent literacy centers through showing sample student work and sharing presentation slides of photographs of students working in these centers -there was much discussion about how to best organize, administer, differentiate, and assess center work -it was agreed by most that students working in centers is very beneficial for this grade level -one area where all teachers were eager to hear about lesson ideas was in the area of Writing -all left with renewed ideas after sharing examples of actual lessons -much attention was given to best practices for Opinion Writing Mathematics -it was largely agreed that the Everyday Mathematics Program does not follow the Common Core -in many areas it goes beyond the recommendations of the Common Core; in this case, it was agreed that exposure to material that is more progressive than that of Common Core will be maintained -the two areas that do not appear to be covered by the Everyday Mathematics program are word problem solving and fluency with addition and subtraction facts - we feel that the lack of word problems is the program is a dramatic short coming, and discussed how we are addressing this among our First Grade classrooms -supplemental materials for math word problems were shared -there was a discussion about the pros and cons of math fact timed tests at this grade level, with some schools believing it necessary, while others feeling that it is unwarranted Religion -it was noted that we use various Religion Programs, but that we all supplement these published programs a great deal with ideas we get from Catholic blogs, particularly Catholic Icing -St. Gabriel teachers shared their new Lenten Lapbook and shared templates for the project -ideas to celebrate the Conclave and process of finding a new Pope were discussed
Where We Would Like to Be:
-we would all feel more comfortable using fewer varied Reading Programs to promote cohesiveness among our lessons in keeping with the Common Core standards
-we would like a system to share supplemental resources that we find beneficial in rounding out our present programs
-we feel a severe lack of math word problems and are eager to share any resources we find to address this issue
Action Plan: Based on the “Where We Would Like to Be” summary from the Minutes above – provide an Action Plan that can be implemented immediately at the classroom level (feel free to add or attach more information as needed):
Action Item – What should be done?
Who is responsible?
When should it be done by?
Other relevant notes:
We will set up a e-mail distribution list that we can all use easily to share any ideas or resources with one another.
St. Gabriel Facilitator will arrange this.
This will be done within days
Websites already being used on a regular basis will be listed and shared on the distribution list.
St. Gabriel Facilitator will post the list
This will take place within days
We would like to reach out to the math facilitator who spoke to us the day of the In-Service. He has left his e-mail and is willing to share his word problems.
Not determined, but will be delegated when distribution list is running.
Websites and resources discovered at future dates will be posted by individual teachers with recommendations to utilize them in our classrooms.
All First Grade teachers.
As they arise.
Photographs of successful lesson plans will also be shared via the group distribution list.
All First Grade teachers.
As they arise.
Crisis drills (lockdown) need to be more often and conducted at unstructured times. Training regarding crisis management by crisis experts.
Superintendent, Administrators, Counselors, and Law Enforcement Agencies (CMPD, FBI)
What is Working – What is Not / Where are We – Where do We Want to Be?
Minutes: Please submit a summary of what was discussed in your subject area meetings focusing on what is working/not working related to your classroom, Common Core, NC Essential Standards, Religion Standards and other relevant curriculum issues. Include a summary of where your participants feel they are relative to implementation and adherence to standards in their schools and where they would like to be. When complete you may upload to your subject area page on the wiki or email to jdurrett@charlottediocese.org to be published on the Curriculum Day wiki at http://doccatholicschoolscurriculumday.wikispaces.com/ (due March 11, 2013).
-Introductions
-a First Grade Common Core Checklist was distributed to group members
-we began our discussion by following the prepared keynote presentation which followed the format of our Wiki information letter
Language Arts
-those teachers who are using the Journeys Reading Program feel very comfortable that the Common Core standards are being well covered
-it came to our attention that this does not apply to all teachers, and that many reading programs are being used
-we discussed, at length, other resources that are available beyond reading programs that are Common Core ready
-teachers from the host school shared their recent successes they are having with independent literacy centers through showing sample student work and sharing presentation slides of photographs of students working in these centers
-there was much discussion about how to best organize, administer, differentiate, and assess center work
-it was agreed by most that students working in centers is very beneficial for this grade level
-one area where all teachers were eager to hear about lesson ideas was in the area of Writing
-all left with renewed ideas after sharing examples of actual lessons
-much attention was given to best practices for Opinion Writing
Mathematics
-it was largely agreed that the Everyday Mathematics Program does not follow the Common Core
-in many areas it goes beyond the recommendations of the Common Core; in this case, it was agreed that exposure to material that is more progressive than that of Common Core will be maintained
-the two areas that do not appear to be covered by the Everyday Mathematics program are word problem solving and fluency with addition and subtraction facts
- we feel that the lack of word problems is the program is a dramatic short coming, and discussed how we are addressing this among our First Grade classrooms
-supplemental materials for math word problems were shared
-there was a discussion about the pros and cons of math fact timed tests at this grade level, with some schools believing it necessary, while others feeling that it is unwarranted
Religion
-it was noted that we use various Religion Programs, but that we all supplement these published programs a great deal with ideas we get from Catholic blogs, particularly Catholic Icing
-St. Gabriel teachers shared their new Lenten Lapbook and shared templates for the project
-ideas to celebrate the Conclave and process of finding a new Pope were discussed
Where We Would Like to Be:
-we would all feel more comfortable using fewer varied Reading Programs to promote cohesiveness among our lessons in keeping with the Common Core standards
-we would like a system to share supplemental resources that we find beneficial in rounding out our present programs
-we feel a severe lack of math word problems and are eager to share any resources we find to address this issue
Action Plan: Based on the “Where We Would Like to Be” summary from the Minutes above – provide an Action Plan that can be implemented immediately at the classroom level (feel free to add or attach more information as needed):